One-piece spring rail anchor



Oct. 4, 1927.

A. J. cooK ONE-PIECE SPRING RAIL ANCHOR April 1, 1926 Original Filed HIIII Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED ST'AT'ES'PATENT. OFFICE.

ADONIRAM J. COOK, OF WESTERLO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE P & M COMPANY; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ONE-PIECE SPRING RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed April 1, 1926, Serial No. 99,160. Renewed December 17, 1926.

' The general object of my invention is the provision of a device which when several thereof are combined with track rails and cross ties will prevent the creeping or 1011- git-udinal movement of the rails relative to the ties under traffic. Its function is to hold the rail in a fixed position relative to the tie so the force which causes creeping will be transmitted through both the rail and tie to the track ballast.

As is well known by those engaged in railroad operation, the general causes of rail creeping are the wave motion of the track under the alternate application and release of a rolling load; the application of the brake, especially when the wheels slide; curvature of the track when the velocity of the train is greater or less than the velocity for which the outer rail is elevated; and descending grades. Rails creep also excessive ly on bridges.

The specific object is the provision of a new and improved device of the above general character which shall consist of a single piece of spring metal cut to the required length from a bar of suitable configuration in cross section, and so fashioned that it shall grip the base or flanges of the rail under a high spring tension, thus avoiding the use of bolts or wedges to maintain the same in proper position, and whereby the first cost will be comparatively small.

. The invention consists in the new and improved construction and formation hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects, and such other objects as will appear from the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an example of the anchor constructed according to the best mode of procedure I have so far devised for the purpose, and its application to a track rail and tie.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of parts of a track rail and tie of common construction with my improved anchor in operative position.

Figure 2 is an end elevation viewof Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the spring metal rail anchor as it appears before being applied to the rail.

A piece or section of the required length is cut from a bar of spring metal preferably though not necessarily rectangular in cross section having opposite plain flat surfaces, as 8 and 9; one end is forged to form a wide upwardly extending flange 11 to engage the edge of one of the rail flanges, and also to form a relatively wide, flat bearing surface 10 for engaging the under surface of the rail flange. However, the end may be fashioned by simply turning up-the end of the bar to form a flange 11 of less length, but preferably the flange and flat bearing surface are widened at each side, as shown by 18, dotted line, Figure 3. y

The opposite end 14 of the bar is bent downwardly at 19, to provide clearance for the lower edge of the rail base. This end of the anchor is bent upwardly and inwardly, as indicated by the reference numerals 12 and14, to a position substantiall parallel with the body portion. at the left 0 19.

The end of the portion 14 of the anchor is bent laterally at 15 through an arc of sub-' stantially 180 to form a spring tongue 16.

The said tongue has a sharp or an angular edge 17 and is bent downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that its lower surface, when the anchor is free of the rail, extends below the lower face of the portion 14 and at an angle greater than the inclination of the said'under portion 14.

The anchor thus fashioned is ready to be slipped over the flange! ofrail 6 to a position adjacent the tie 5, to which the rail is secured by spikes. I Obviously, in driving the anchor onto the flanges of the rail the jaw, comprising the part 14 and the tongue 16, will be bent upwardly, and the tongue 16 will be bent upwardly in a direction to bring its lower surface into alignment with the lower surface of the jaw 14. With this construction, the

edge 17 tends to bite into or become imbedded in the top surface of the flange of the rail, and the part 14 is twisted through its longitudinal axis, thereby tending to tiltthe anchor about an axis extending transversely of therail so as to frictionally engage the top surface of the rail flange and so as to urge the jaw 14 and the body portion 9 in a direction to effect a shackle grip on the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base.

The spring tension of the distorted metal will thus hold the anchor firmly in proper operative position.

The bending or wave motion of the rail when'a train passes over it will not displace the anchor, but will cause the anchor, by

From the foregoing description. taken. in.

connection with the drawing it is clear that I have provided a one-piece spring rail an-. chor which is relatively cheap in first cost, of simple construction, and'which willbe eflicient in operation when applied in conn'eetionwith a-rail and tie.

A-plurality. of the anchors will normally engage *a plurality of-ties so that the force or-forces which causecreeping of the rail will be transmitted to the several ties at the same time and at different points, thus distllbll-tliig;tlle energy so the rails and ties will not move relative to the track ballast.

1. A'rail anchor of spring metal fashioned at oneend to form a flange, the opposite end bent over through an arc of substantiallylSO to a position substantially parallel with the bodyportion of the anchor, and the extreme end bentsideways through an arc-ofapproximately 180 to form a tongue provided with a sharp edge 17 adapted when the anchor is inposition to engage the'top surface of a rail'flange inside the outer edge of said flange.

2. A rail anchor consisting of'a single p-i-ece'of spring-metal having a flat surface, an upwardly extended flange at one end, and a'jaw at the opposite end comprising the partlel and the tongue 16, said tongue being disposed in a' plane obliqueto the plane of said adjacent partl l and having asharp edge adapted to engage the top surface of a rail flange.

3. Arail anchorconsistingof a bar of spring metalcwith aflat surface, one end fashioned to form a flange, the opposite end bent downwardly at 19,.the extreme end bent si'dewaysito form tongue, and-the said end including.thetonguebentover at '12 to form a jaw, said tongue being disposed in a plane oblique tothe flat .surface of the bar and having a sharp or angular edge 17.

4;. A rail anchor.comprisinga single piece ofmetal having some resiliency and formed atone end with a jaw'portion for engage mentwith the top-surface of therail base and formed with'a return bend providing a spring tongue, the lower surface of'which normally extends obliquely to the. lower surface ofthe jaw, when the anchor is free of the rail and'bears with spring pressure against said top surface of saidrail base, when the anchor is in its applied position, the saidjaw being disp osed'with relation-to the b'odyof'theanchor so that the space betweonthe jaw and the bodyof the anchor is normally insuflicient to receive the-rail base in operative position therein, whereby the said jaw is flexed outwardly with relation to the body in application of the device to a. rail.

5. Arailjanehorcomprising a metal bar having some resiliency and formed at one end with a jaw portion for engagement with the top surface of the rail base and formed witha returnbend providing a spring tongue, the lower surface of which is normally oblique to the lower surface of the saidjaw and is adapted to bear atits-extreinity against the top surface of the 'rail base.

6..Ail'ill]. anchor comprising ametal bar having some-resiliency and formedat'one end with a .j aw portion for engagement-with the top surface of the rail base and, formed witha; return bend providing a, spring tongue, the lower surface of whichis nor.- mallyoblique to the lower :surfaceof the said jaw and extends belowsaid lower sur faceof the said jaw, whereby movementof the. anchor transversely of the rail to its. applied position, flexes said tongue upwardly and thereby effects a torsional strain on said jaw portion. V

7. A rail anchor comprising a.1netal bar having some resiliency and formed at one end with a aw portion for engagement with the top surface of the rail base andformed with asp ring tongue, the lower surface of which is normally oblique to the lower sur face of the said jaw and extends belowthe lower surface of the said jaw,v whereby movement of the anchor transversely of the rail to its applied position, flexes the jaw and the spring tongue outwardly with re spect-to the body of the anchor, the distortion of thespring tongue being greater than that of the jaw and exertsactorsional strain on said jaw.

8. A one-piece'anchor devicecomprising a spring metal body formed-at one end with means for engaging one edge of the rail base and 'at-the other end withajaw which bears with spring pressure against the top surface of said base and with a return bend providing a springtong-ue normally parallel with said jaw when in-applied positionxand presents a cutting edge-inopposition to movement of the an CllOIi in a direction to remove it from the rail.

9. A one-piece anchorv device comprising a spring netal body formed at one endwith means for engaging one edge of:the rail base and at the other endwith a jawwhich bears with spring pressure against the top, surface of said base and with a. return bend providing a spring tongue, the extremity of which takes a biting hold on thesaidtop surface ofthe rail base;

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

AD ONIRAM Ji COOK, 

